SOPHOMORE YEAR

1. Complete your self-assessment process. Compile a list of your strengths (academic and personal); skills, and knowledge. Use this list to help focus your career choice.
2. Continue the process of narrowing down your specific interests in the field of psychology and consider the type of employment you wish. Use the results of your self-assessment and on-campus resources (e.g., academic advisor and Career Center) to identify career options, You should focus your career choice by the end of your sophomore year so that you have time to take the appropriate preparatory course work.
3. Finish up the majority of your general education requirements, and begin you work your way through more of your Psychology requirements (e.g., Experimental Methods in Psychology and Quantitative Methods).
4. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your progress toward degree completion and your career plans and options, You should discuss upper level course offerings in psychology that will best prepare you for your career.
5. Meet with the psychology faculty member in charge of 496 Undergraduate Internships, and discuss options in this area that are of interest to you.
6. Begin to prepare a resume (with your advisor's help) if you have not already done so You will need a completed resume to enroll in the Co-op course. You can keep a copy on file in the University Career Center

JUNIOR YEAR

1. Re-evaluate your career choice. Are you stil on the right track?
2. Make plans to obtain relevant experience outside the classroom before the end of your senior year (e.g., volunteer work, Co-op in Psychology, Undergraduate Internships, or a directed study involving independent research).
3. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your progress toward degree completion and your career plans and options. Review your course selections for the major field in psychology and your minor, if you have one.
4. Contact people in the profession you are seeking to enter, and conduct some "information interviews" to learn more about career options.

SUMMER BETWEEN JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR

1. Use the summer months to build your job information network, prepare a polioshed resume, and continue to refine your career aspirations.

SENIOR YEAR

1. Meet with your academic advisor during fall semester to discuss your progress toward degree completion and your career plans and options. Review your course selections for the major field in psychology and your minor, if you have one.
2. Obtain a copy of your transcript from the Registrar and review it carefully for any errors.
3. Identify three individuals (e.g., faculty members and past employers) who are willing and able to write STRONG letters of recommendations for you. Obtain recommendation forms from the department, give them to your recommenders, and ask them to submit them to your advisor when they are completed (Please see the chapter on Resumes and Letters of Recommendation for more information on this topic).
4. Review your resume. Assistance in developing an effective resume is available in the Career Center and your advisor faculty members to review your resume. Place your completed resume on file in the Career Center.
5. Practice for interviews with the psychology faculty. The initial interview can be one of the most critical hurdles in getting a job, so be as prepared as possible. Make sure you check with the Career Center early in the semester you plan to be interviewing. The Career Center brings a number of prospective employers to campus. However, in order to participate in on-campus recruiting interviews, you must sign up!